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Section 288: Operational period and supervision period

Sentencing Act 2020 · 2020 c. 17View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 10: Custodial sentences — CHAPTER 5: Suspended sentences

A suspended sentence order must specify the operational period (see section 286(3)(a)).

The operational period must be a period, beginning with the day on which the order is made, of—

at least 6 months, and
not more than the maximum period.

The maximum period for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) is 3 years if—

the term of the suspended sentence is more than 2 years, or
the suspended sentence is one of two or more sentences imposed on the same occasion which are to be served consecutively and the terms of those sentences are in aggregate more than 2 years.

Otherwise the maximum period for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) is 2 years.

If a suspended sentence order imposes any community requirement or requirements, the order must specify the supervision period (see section 286(2)).

The supervision period specified must be a period, beginning with the day on which the order is made, of—

at least 6 months, and
not more than—
2 years, or
if less, the operational period.

But if the suspended sentence order imposes an unpaid work requirement, the supervision period—

continues until the offender has worked under the order for the number of hours specified in the order under paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 9, but
does not continue beyond the end of the operational period.

For provision about the termination of the supervision period, see paragraph 22A of Schedule 16.

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This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.